Friday, April 28, 2017

Seattle Socialist Calls for Shutting Down Highways and Airport on May Day

Kshama Sawant

Socialist Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant is calling for Seattle activists and workers to shut down Seattle highways and the Seattle airport on May Day.

According to Sawant, 59 organizations have joined Seattle’s May 1st Action Coalition to call for a day of mass protest on May Day.

On April 24, 2017, the Seattle City Council unanimously passed a resolution brought forward by the May 1st Action Coalition, the Coalition of City Unions, immigrant rights activists, and Sawant, proclaiming that the City of Seattle workers have the right to take the day off on May 1, 2017 without retaliation.

The resolution further asks that all City departments inform every non-emergency worker that they have this right to request the day off to attend May Day celebrations.

The Washington State Patrol warned May Day protesters to not block interstates, calling it “dangerous and irresponsible behavior that could cause serious and/or fatal injuries.”

“The freeways are no place for protests, and calls for protestors to block the freeway system is simply reckless and irresponsible. The WSP and our partner WSDOT go to great lengths to keep the freeway system flowing. This is not about politics, this is about public safety. To that end, we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to safeguard the rights of peaceful protestors, but will not tolerate any interference with blocking the freeway system,” said Washington State Patrol Captain Ron Mead in a release.